The Alumni Council

The Alumni Council is an important group of volunteer leaders who take on a variety of important projects at Christ School. In addition to the planning for Alumni Weekend, the Alumni Council works on the Alumni Awards, the Legacy Scholarship, the Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Teacher and Staff of the Year Award. Christ School is truly grateful for all the ways in which the Alumni Council strengthens the ties between alumni and the school.

Alumni Council Mission Statement

The Christ School Alumni Council is committed to preserving the history and improving the future of Christ School by promoting sincere connections among former students. The Council will work to engage alumni in the school’s philosophy that balances academics, spiritual life, athletics, leadership development and a direct understanding of work’s dignity. By encouraging alumni participation, organizing events and frequently communicating with the school’s former students, Council members will build on more than 100 years of experiences and values shared by the Christ School brotherhood.

John Knapp, Jr. '91, President

At Christ School, John was a football player and an all-state baseball player. As a sixth former, he was proctor in lower Boyd and president of 'the frat'. He attended Wofford College, as a Switzer Scholar. At Wofford he played baseball and was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He graduated with a double major in English and Sociology. After graduation he moved to Columbia, SC where he has lived since. He has worked in the financial services industry for over fifteen years and is currently employed by MetLife of the Carolinas. John and his wife, Pamela, an Asheville School graduate, have a young daughter named Sarah Dayden. When John isn't working or spending time with his family, he can often be found on the golf course or fishing on Lake Murray. He also loves his Greenies, Terriers and Gamecocks!

Townsend Tanner '03, Vice President

Originally from Rutherfordton, NC, Townsend moved back to Arden in 2010, where he currently works as a financial advisor for the Tanner-Ashe Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. He earned a degree in business management from North Carolina State University in 2008 after graduating from Christ School, where he was a proctor of South Carolina House. Outside of work Townsend enjoys playing golf, spending time with family, and supporting our Greenies sports programs.

Tom Beck '69

BA, Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1973Accounting, Western Carolina University

After a long career in the construction industry as owner, superintendent and project manager, Tom joined MetLife in August 2010 as a financial services representative. He is married to Annette and they have two grown children: a daughter Meredith Merrill, mother of their first grandchild Lane Thomas, and a son Andrew Thomas '09.

George A. Berger '83

Davidson, NC

BA, History, Washington and Lee University, 1987Master of Community Planning, Auburn UniversityPost-graduate fellow, University of Alabama

George has worked in community planning, economic development, downtown revitalization and public administration for almost two decades, and currently manages interdepartmental and inter-agency strategic growth initiatives for the City of Charlotte. He is married to Lara Whorton Berger, has an elementary school-aged daughter, and lives in Davidson, NC where he serves on the Town Planning Board and volunteers at the local farmers market. His other interests are most keenly focused on pursuing the middle of the pack at various bicycle races around the southeast and on practicing the traditional southern art and magic of barbecue.

Robert Clawson '88

A native of Charleston, SC, where he makes his home, Robert is the third in his family to attend Christ School, following his two uncles to Arden. Robert is a sales representative with Samuel Shapiro & Co., a customs house broker and freight forwarder based in Baltimore, Maryland, a job in which he frequently travels the East Coast. He is a member of both the Hibernian Society, an Irish fraternal order, and College of Charleston Cougar Club. In his spare time, he likes to travel and is a regular at Cougars' basketball games.

Will Willimon '94

Will is in his sixth year as a Regional Director of Development for the University of Georgia. Following his graduation from Wofford College in 1998, he began a career in education as an Associate Director of Admission here at CS. From Admission, Will moved into independent school fundraising and gained experience in capital campaigns and strategic planning before moving to his position at UGA.

Guy Campbell '00

Guy is Vice President of Carolina Colortones in Black Mountain. He is married to Erica Campbell and they have 3 boys - Bradley, Wyatt & Davis - who come to campus to cheer on their dad's varsity soccer team. Guy has coached the Greenies since 2010.

Calvin Covington '01

BA, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2005MBA, Hampton University, 2007

Calvin came to Christ School in 1999 from Brooklyn, NY, and quickly became a star member of the football, basketball and track teams, and a prefect of West House. He matriculated to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he was a Senior Marshal when he graduated in 2005. He went on to earn an MBA from Hampton University in 2007. He now works at Bank of America as a Financial Analyst in Global Wealth Investment Management. Covington currently resides in Charlotte, NC, with his wife Andrea McAfee Covington.

Eric Thorp ’01

Eric returned to campus in 2007 when he joined the Advancement Office as Associate Director of Alumni and then became the Director of Alumni, a role he served through May 2011. Now in the Admission Office, Eric is Assistant Director of Admission, one of the varsity basketball coaches and an adjunct houseparent to Cuningham House.

Jack Smallpage '06

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jack attended CS from second through sixth forms, and was recently the 2011 recipient of the school’s Robert B. Moore III Young Alumnus Award. Jack currently works at Donovan Marine, Inc. in New Orleans, selling boat supplies. During his free time, Jack enjoys fishing in the summer, hunting in South Louisiana during the winter and in the fall supporting the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Peter J. Townsend '86

Born in Durham, NC Peter now resides in Charlotte, NC. He attended Christ school from 1982-1986. Peter was a very active member of the Christ school community, playing football and baseball as well as running track and wrestling. He was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the school choir.

Peter attended Newberry College, where he studied Sports medicine. He has worked for Piedmont airlines and US Air. He now owns and operates his own company selling educational toys for children.

Peter loves Christ School and has many fond memories of friends and first time experiences he has had there as a young man. He strongly feels that his time there has helped him to be a better and stronger person and he also believes that Christ School's role in a young man's life in this day and age is more important than ever. Peter enjoys talking and networking with all different kinds of people and feels that he has a lot of real world experience to offer. When he is not working, he enjoys being outdoors, golfing and spending time with his finance and family.

Lyles Webster ’02

Lyles attended North Carolina State University until 2006 when he moved out to Aspen, Colorado to work as a ski instructor for three years at Aspen Ski Co. Currently, Lyles attends Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, perusing a degree in Biblical Studies in conjunction with a Masters of Divinity.

"Many of my friends who attended boarding schools like Woodberry Forest or Episcopal High School have had a network of brothers who often gather to “catch-up” or help one another out in business. I am committed to building a similar community of alumni and reuniting the classmates and former students who no longer have ties to Christ School. My focus is to strengthen and connect all alumni relationships in both the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and High Point, Greensboro and Winston Salem areas. It would be established through regular meetings at local restaurants, getting guys out to Christ School away games, keeping guys up to date with the happenings at Christ School while encouraging more alumni campus visits. It would be an honor to have the opportunity to serve on the Christ School Alumni Council, and to be part of a group dedicated to reviving the brotherhood we all began and share at Christ School."

James "Max" Snider '08

Originally from Barnesville, Maryland, Max attended Christ School from fourth through sixth forms. He will earn a degree in real estate finance with a minor in risk management and insurance from The University of Mississippi in May 2013 after graduating from Christ School, where he was the Sacristan of The Chapel and a proctor of South Carolina House. He was a three-year varsity member of the lacrosse team and has been a coach at Christ School Lacrosse Camp multiple summers. Max is the President of the Real Estate Finance association at Ole Miss and holds numerous jobs offers in commercial real estate. He enjoys golf, lacrosse, anything on the water, and traveling.

Joe Wheeless ’04

Joe grew up in Raleigh, NC and graduated from Christ School in 2004. He then attended Western Carolina University where he earned a BA in Broadcasting and an M.Ed in College Student Personnel. Currently, Joe works at High Point University in the Office of Student Life overseeing all university housing. He is an active alumni with his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, where he serves on 2 chapter advisory boards.